BAILEE “No, no, no,” I whispered as I saw the crowd of paparazzi blocking the front of Alex’s office building. A few cops were guiding them back away from the door, but getting inside without being seen or stopped would be impossible. My hand moved down to the cup holder, and I looked down quic
I had to get out. I needed to get away. A small part of me wanted to ram Ben’s Range Rover right through the front gates leading to Alex’s house, but I knew the protesters would just follow me onto his property. Since I couldn’t call the cops and have them removed, I was stuck. My palm connecte
ALEXANDER Bailee was shaking violently as I walked her to the couch. I almost wished I had listened to my previous girlfriends when they insisted I needed to keep a throw blanket in here. Instead, I walked past her and turned on the gas fireplace while I waited for her to explain. I was angry a
BAILEE The doctors and nurses had tried for hours to convince me that the baby on my chest had passed in utero, but I couldn’t let her go. I held onto her for hours, praying for a miracle. She was only the size of my palm, and I knew, even if she hadn’t been hurt in the car accident, that she was
ALEXANDER The world around me went silent, and I was briefly aware of the sudden and very jolting feeling of the Earth no longer spinning. I hadn’t even had a chance to process and mourn the loss of the daughter I didn’t even know I had before she dropped this on me. Hearing that I almost lost
BAILEE “Come on,” Alex said, taking my hand and pulling me upstairs. “Where are you taking me? I need to get home to Brinley.” I insisted, but Alex just shook his head. “No, you need to get warm so you don’t get sick. Ben can take care of her for a few hours.” He insisted, and my cheeks burned
BAILEE As soon as I reached my office, I grabbed my phone and purse and then jumped back in my car, pulling over again only a block away. Businesses would be closing soon, but I had a call I needed to make before it was too late. I needed to know who was behind the article. My anger had been
BAILEE Ben stood at the kitchen island; his smore dripping chocolate onto the counter as he stared at me with wide eyes. I wasn’t sure why he had bothered to even make it when we both knew he wouldn’t eat it. Every time we did this, he would nibble on his smore during gossip, but whenever it was
HAVEN “Have you ever done this before?” Ben asked, and I shook my head. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before stepping back. “How did I get so lucky?” His question, with the sudden loss of his body heat, made me blush, and I pushed off the counter slowly. I could only assume, with him
HAVEN “Did he say anything to you?” Ben asked as we settled into our room for the night. Siri had passed out on the car ride home, and Ben made it look so easy to transfer her from the car to her bed. I had never succeeded in doing that without waking her up. “No,” I said, meeting his stressed
BEN He was so close to them... so close to my family, and there was nothing I could do but watch. “Evans! Head in the game!” Coach screamed, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the scene before me. Security was coming down the steps toward him, and he threw his head back laughing before walk
HAVEN I was so scared that Ben would be angry at me for going behind his back and calling his parents that I hadn’t even told him they were coming. They were staying at a hotel near the stadium and were ecstatic to meet Siri. That was my big regret with this surprise. Ben didn’t get to introduce
BEN “Is Haven bringing Siri tonight?” Jake asked, and I nodded, unable to stop the smile on my face. The first pre-season game was tonight, and I was over the moon to finally have someone to give my tickets to. They weren't front row since the arena saved those for the high-paying fans, but my
HAVEN Ben’s eyes closed as if he were in pain as I leaned forward and flicked his lips with my tongue. I was bold when drunk, but this… this was a new level. I felt invincible with Ben as if I could act on any urge I had, and he couldn’t or wouldn’t judge me for it. He would just… satisfy me. “
HAVEN I loved them. The women were absolutely incredible. All of them, except Nora, but she broke away from the group fairly quickly. It seemed she was a bitch to everyone, and no one really put up with it. They just ignored her when her attitude started up and wouldn’t talk to her again until she
HAVEN Brinley stayed with us for three nights, which was the best distraction I could have asked for. The girls had been so happy to be together that I didn’t have time to dwell on any of the shit that had happened in the past few months. They needed constant engagement and snacks. I secretly had
BEN I watched with a smile as Brinley held her baby brother, Tristan, for the first time. I was excited to meet him, but I also wanted her to do so before me or Siri did. It was vital for them to bond, and with the bright smile on her little face, I knew she would have no problem with that. Brin